Today, we are honoured to have a remarkable guest who embodies the spirit of breaking down borders and fostering inclusivity through meaningful conversations. Solène Anglaret is a dynamic speaker, accomplished author, and a true leader with a mission to bring the world closer together, one inclusive conversation at a time. Solène has an impressive array of experiences that span across the globe, having lived and worked in six countries and explored numerous cultures through extensive travel. Her diverse background includes ventures into various businesses, from starting her own enterprise in Australia to building a successful joint venture from scratch in China. Additionally, she has contributed her talents to companies of all scales, ranging from startups and SMEs to multinational corporations across Europe. Solène's expertise is as multifaceted as her journey. She excels in presenting, hosting, and public speaking, while also being an adept writer. Her passions extend to areas such as diversity, inclusion, and belonging, mental health, neurodiversity, disability, strategy, leadership, coaching, programme management, HR, communication, and event organization, among others. Beyond her extensive skill set, Solène is an inspiring leader driven by empathy and a deep commitment to nurturing the growth and development of individuals and teams. Her entrepreneurial spirit makes her resilient and adaptable, consistently finding innovative ways to bring ideas to life. As a natural storyteller, she approaches life with honesty, curiosity, and a unique perspective as a neuroatypical individual, affectionately known as the 'ideas machine.'

Allow me to introduce Nelson Derry, an esteemed figure in the realm of culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion. As the Global Head at Aesop, Nelson holds a pivotal role in fostering an environment that embraces and celebrates these vital values. Nelson's influence extends beyond the workplace, as he is also a best-selling author of the renowned book "Rise of the 2020 Leader," which delves into the intricacies of leadership, culture, inclusion, and high-performing teams. One of Nelson's notable attributes is his talent for storytelling, captivating audiences with his narratives that shed light on the power of diverse perspectives and the importance of inclusive leadership. With each tale, Nelson inspires readers and listeners alike, igniting their curiosity and desire for positive change. Nelson's exceptional contributions have not gone unnoticed. His dedication and expertise have earned him prestigious accolades, including recognition from the Financial Times and Empower, who have named him among the top 30 future leaders in both the United Kingdom and the United States for his remarkable efforts in advancing workplace inclusion. Nelson Derry is a true visionary, driven by his passion for cultivating inclusive cultures, empowering leaders, and creating environments where every individual can thrive. Through his groundbreaking work and captivating storytelling, Nelson continues to shape and inspire the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

SISUciety, Meet Lorraine Copes, an extraordinary force of nature revolutionising hospitality and more. As a top-tier food and beverage consultant, she's redefining culinary experiences. Yet, Lorraine's impact goes beyond her industry achievements. She's a social entrepreneur, championing diversity and inclusion in all spaces.But Lorraine's not just a professional powerhouse. She's also a life coach, speaker, and writer, inspiring others to reach their full potential. Her authenticity and wisdom leave a lasting impact. With unwavering dedication, she advocates for positive change and challenges the status quo.Lorraine Copes embodies the spirit of pushing boundaries, embracing diversity, and pursuing excellence. Her infectious energy makes her an inspiration to all. Let's celebrate this true trailblazer, pushing us to a better, more inclusive world.

Both Lousia and Olajide have swapped the studio for a beach... AGAIN! so this week we bring you some of the best bits from the Mani's of The week from season 1. A chance to catchup on some of the big convos from last season.

Both Lousia and Olajide have swapped the studio for a beach, so this week we bring you some of the best bits from the E & I Topic of The week from season 1. A chance to catchup on some of the big convos from last season.

Get ready to celebrate with us as we kick off this episode with a special birthday surprise for our very own Louisa! We sing, share memories, and indulge in some delicious cake, all while reflecting on the joys of life and the importance of cherishing special moments. Join us for this heartwarming celebration and get a glimpse into our lives beyond the podcast. But don't worry, we haven't forgotten about the main topic of this episode: DEI and the world of Turtle Bay. Our guest Jo shares her journey from starting in catering in a golf club to becoming People Director at Turtle Bay and the challenges she faced as a female leader along the way. Listen in as we discuss empowering others, the LGBTQ+IA community, and even tackle some quick-fire questions. This episode truly has it all, so grab a slice of cake and join us for a fun, engaging, and insightful conversation.

s2e4Join us on the sofa this week as we welcome our VIP guest, primary school teacher and Dolly Parton enthusiast, Sean Gorman! We kick things off discussing the importance of inclusivity in leadership, the joys of garden parties, and the incredible experience of witnessing Beyonce perform live. Sean shares his journey from primary school teacher to facilitator of learning and how he uses social media to connect with parents through platforms like Twitter and Dojo. We also discuss the need for diverse representation in children's books and how Sean's E&I Books Instagram page helps promote inclusivity. Our conversation highlights the importance of parents and guardians getting involved in diversifying education and how books can be used to teach children about inclusivity and representation without putting them in a specific box. Sean shares his experience as a primary school teacher and how he works with behaviour specialists and special education programs to create a more inclusive learning environment. Finally, we touch on topics such as entrance songs, the switch from plastic to paper Mars Bar wrappers, and the unique joys of scraping cheese off McDonald's wrappers. Sean also shares his love of teaching and his favourite restaurant, Olajide's Kitchen. Don't miss our discussion on manifesting relaxation and fashion inspiration, as well as the importance of bravery and curiosity in our lives. So, sit back, relax, and join us for this entertaining and insightful episode! (0:00:00) - Diverse Topics and a VIP Guest We discuss inclusivity in leadership, garden parties, Beyonce's performance, teaching in a modern world, emotions of fight songs, comedic bants, and supporting those at risk of suicide. (0:09:51) - Entrance Songs and Mars Bar Packaging We debate entrance songs, discuss Mars Bar Plastic Wrapper being swapped for paper, and share our secret love of scraping cheese from McDonald's wrappers. (0:21:38) - Teaching and Sharing Books Sean shares his journey from teacher to Lead Practitioner in Science, discussing tools like Twitter and Dojo to connect parents with their children's learning, and his E&I Books Instagram page. (0:29:02) - Diverse Children's Books and Representation Books teach inclusivity, representation, and everyday norms, while social media algorithms can prevent important content from being seen; books highlighting hard topics provide insight into poverty. (0:32:19) - Parental Involvement and Diversity in Education Parents and guardians can get involved in diversifying books and education, voicing opinions, and using books to teach inclusivity, representation, and the everyday norm. (0:38:12) - Diverse Books, Curious Students Sean shares his experience coming out as a gay teacher and the importance of representation in education and books. (0:48:58) - Diversifying Children's Reading Materials Strong and Tough explores adoption, normalizing diverse family structures, and the power of images for young readers. (0:54:55) - Quickfire Questions and Random Chats Sean and I discussed running a record store, Harry Bow, bravery, teaching as a superpower, Oligido's Kitchen, and Schmiggen Dun. (0:59:53) - Manifesting Relaxation and Fashion Inspiration We discuss Golden Girls, fashion, manifesting goals, wardrobe, consumerism, lunch, Burner Boys, and manifesting good weather. (1:05:13) - Gonging Out at a Party We reflect on bravery, curiosity, and the power of a gong, and explore nature's joys and our individual superpowers.

Ola is Female independent powerhouse, has been a champion of SISU since conception, is a close confidant and is also my sister from another mister. Full of colour and character we are excited to have her on the show.

This new season of 'On The Sofa With SISU' as you know is going to be a little different...this season is all about interviews with people from all walks of life, backgrounds and industries. We're gonna get down and dirty, nitty and gritty. We want our SISUciety to gain perspectives from all angles, as many as we can conjure for you, and get a deeper insight into this space of EEI, from both a professional lens, and the 'life-of-the-every-day' for different types of people lens. We hope this will build a greater understanding for humanity all round and bring you more wise words, guidance and of course LOLS... A self-proclaimed relationship expert (despite never having been in one), Ricki is no stranger to the world of dating. Once described as a "serial-dater" (by Olajide), Ricki's love life can only be described as "a series on unfortunate events" - and today he is here to tell us all about how he navigates life as a single white female.

This new season of 'On The Sofa With SISU' as you know is going to be a little different...this season is all about interviews with people from all walks of life, backgrounds and industries. We're gonna get down and dirty, nitty and gritty. We want our SISUciety to gain perspectives from all angles, as many as we can conjure for you, and get a deeper insight into this space of EEI, from both a professional lens, and the 'life-of-the-every-day' for different types of people lens. We hope this will build a greater understanding for humanity all round and bring you more wise words, guidance and of course LOLS... So to kick start the seasoooon, we have three very VIP'S whom are extremely dear and close friends of both Olajide and I. These people have been in our lives since we were teens. They have seen the ups, the downs and the sideways. Over the years we have have schooled together, partied together, holidayed together, cried, laughed, argued, and saved one another. There is nothing we have not been through. They have been there from day one of SISU's birth and continue to support us in varying ways. They are avid listeners of this podcast, and so it was only right to have them here to get an insight into thier own opinions on the whole pieeee. We have with us today Natasha Smith, who is a the senior buyer for Coast, Hayley her younger sister who is the digital channel manager at Lyle & Scott and Samantha Gasson who is the the chief people officer at EC1. Welcome ladies, and thank you for being here today.